Albert preiss



(No Model.)

' A. PREISS.

I RAILWAY JOINT. No. 448,257. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

INVENTOR ww wl ATTORNEYS Parent amen;

ALBERT PREISS, OF NORIVOOD, SOUTII AUSTRALIA.

RAILWAY-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,257, dated March 17', 1891.

Application filed March 18, 1890. Serial No. 344,333. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT PREIss, plu mbcr, of Norwood, in the Province of South Australia, have invented an Improved Joint for the Rails of Railways or Tramways, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

My invention relates to an improved construction of the rails of railways or tranr ways, and is intended to take the place of the fish-plates and bolts used for such purpose.

The special feature of my invention consists in constructing the joints of rails in such way as to form a bed or socket in which the ends of the rails rest and into which they are clamped by a fish-plate or side piece kept in position by a key screwed into the sleeper. I also cut the ends of the rails at an angle, say, of forty-five degrees, instead of at a right angle, so that they may meet diagonally and overlap one another. \Vhile permitting free longitudinal contraction or expansiommyinr proved joint will not allow of lateral motion or rising, and by providing a solid bed on which the ends of the rails rest entirely obviates the dropping or sinking, which renders constant packing necessary when the ordinary fish-plates and bolts are employed. By cutting the ends of the rails at an angle the wheels of the rolling-stock in crossing the joint rest 011 both rails at once, and since my improved joint will not allow the end of either rail to rise the edges or corners are not injured, as is the case with the joint at pres ent in use.

My improved rail-joint may be constructed of iron or steel,and may be rolled or pressed or partly rolled and partly pressed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I isa plan of rails and joint complete; Fig. II, a side elevation of the same; Fig. III, a sectional elevation of rail-joint fish-plate or side piece and key; Fig. IV, a plan and elevation of the ends of the rails, showing the diagonal cut.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all figures.

A is a rail of any size, (in the present instance a full-sized section of a forty-onepound steel rail is shown;) A diagonal cut ends of rails; 13, a rail-joint having a solid bed and provided with projecting lugs B B" and a keel or projecting piece B The lug Bprojects inward and is of sufiicient length to engage the corner where the head of the rail joins the web. The keel or projecting piece B runs longitudinally the whole length of the joint and projects downward at right angles to the bed-plate into a groove cut for the purpose in the sleeper. The lug B projects upward at right angles to the bed-plate of the joint B, a space being allowed between the lug B and B corresponding to the foot of the rail A.

G is a fish-plate or side piece of angle iron or steel and having sides of sufficient length to take a bearing underneath the head of the rail and against the inner side of the lug B 1) is a sleeper of permanent way.

E is a key provided with suitable screwthread and having a head of such length as to engage the fish-plate or angle side piece 0.

I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the special form of lug B, but may make it to fit the web and foot ofthe rail or may cause it to project at right angles to the bed-plate in a similar manner to B and provide a second fish-plate on side piece C. The bed-plate may also, if found desirable, be constructed without the projecting piece It will be seen by reference to Fig. III that the bed-plate of the joint is let into the sleeper in order that the foot of the rail may rest on a level with the face of the former.

In cutting the ends of the rails diagonally I do not confine myself to an angle of fortyfive degrees, but may vary the angle according to the size or class ol the rail employed.

Having now particularly described and explained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to he performed, I declare that What I claim is In a rail-joint, the combination, with the bed-plate having projeetinglugs, one of which projects inward so as to engage the head and web of the rail of a fish-plate or angle-piece and a screwed spike having its head extending' at right angles to the screw-threaded part and adapted to be turned so as to be pressed against said fish-plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT PREISS.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS H. CROW, CHARLES S. BUReEss. 

